Soffit ventilator



March 24, 1964 L. L. SMITH 3,125,942

SOFFIT VENTILATOR Filed Oct. 26. 1960 INVENTOR. LESTER L. SMITH diia megs United States Patent 3,125,942 SOFFIT VENTILATOR Lester L. Smith, Peoria, 111. (R0. Box 68, Princeville, Ill.) Filed Oct. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 65,115 3 Claims. (Cl. 98-37) This invention relates to sofiit ventilators, and more particularly to ventilators adapted to mounting in the sofiit of a building, such as a house, and which extend longitudinally thereof to provide ventilation which is distributed along the length of a building soffit.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a ventilator adapted to production in strip form and to be cut to desired lengths for mounting along the soffit of a building, under the overhanging portion of the roof, to provide relatively uniform ventilation along the underside of the roof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a soffit ventilator for mounting between the facia and wall of a building, which ventilator provides good weather protection as well as ventilation.

My invention has for another object the provision of a soflit ventilator having flanges thereon for making tight weatherproof connections to adjacent parts of a building structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary end sectional view depicting the structure of a portion of the roof and soffit of a building of relatively typical construction and having included therein a preferred embodiment of my soffit ventilator;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end sectional view similar to FIG. 1 and depicting the adaptation of my soffit ventilator to a metal soflit plate, instead of a wood sofiit panel, as depicted in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary end sectional views similar to FIG. 1, but showing modified forms of my soffit ventilator and their preferred manners of installation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top elevational view of a portion of the illustrated sofiit ventilators, drawn to a larger scale than FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, and depicting details of the ventilator structure; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary end sectional view of a portion of my soffit ventilator structure wherein the section is taken substantially as indicated by a line 66 in FIG. 5.

In the exemplary embodiment of my invention which is depicted in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, the relatively typical building structure shown includes a building side wall 10, a roof 12 which extends laterally beyond the side wall of the building to provide a soffit 13 adjacent the building side wall which is overhung by the roof 12. The structure of the roof 12 includes rafters 14 to which sheathing 15 is secured; the sheathing being exteriorly covered by a weatherproof roofing, such as shingles 16. Studs 17 project laterally from the exterior of the side wall 10 below the roof 12 and between the rafters 14 to provide a series of supports for the sofiit 13, which includes a soffit panel 18 which, in the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, extends longitudinally of the building and extends outwardly from the ex- 3,125,942 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 terior of the side wall 10. Also, in the illustrated building structure, the outer ends of the rafters 14 are covered by a facia board 19 which extends downwardly from the shingled surface of the roof to a position below the sofiit.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a space 20 is provided between the outer edge of the sofi-lt panel and the inner surface of the facia board, which space extends longitudinally of the roof for the accommodation of a sofiit ventilator 22 provided for the purpose of permitting a flow of air to the interior of the building structure below the roof sheathing for affording ventilation, while providing Weather protection against snow and rain which may be driven by wind. In installations of the type illustrated, it is usual to utilize sofiit ventilators of the kind shown in association with other Ventilating means in the roof structure and located near the ridge of the roof, thereby providing for a flow of air upwardly from the soffit ventilators along the inner surfaces of the roof to the additional and higher ventilating means, such as a ridge ventilator, not shown herein. In FIG. 1, the soffit panel 18 is made of wood or a suitable fiberboard, while in FIG. 2, a soffit panel 23 comprises a metal sheet. The general structures of the sotfit ventilators 22 in FIGS. 1 and 2 are the same, except that the one illustrated in FIG. 1 is adapted to interfit with the wood soffit panel 18, while the'ventilator of FIG. 2 interfits with the thinner sheet metal panel 23.

Considering the structure of the illustrated soffit ventilators in greater detail, they are integrally made from long and relatively narrow strips of sheet metal punched and formed to provide louvers 24 and adjacent associated ventilating openings 25 Extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the ventilators, mounting flange structures 26 and 27 are provided for supporting the soffit ventilators relative to the roof structure and for providing weatherproof joints between the ventilators and adjacent parts of the building.

In the ventilators herein illustrated, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the louvers 24 and their adjacent ventilating openings 25 are each quite short, with the louvers and their openings extending longitudinally of the ventilator structure and arranged in spaced rows which are disposed laterally of the ventilator. Between the adjacent lateral rows of louvers, in the disclosed structure, integrally formed flutes 28 extend longitudinally of the rows laterally of the ventilators to stiffen the ventilator structure. When the illustrated ventilators are made and mounted as shown herein, the louvers 24 project from the ventilator surface in the same general direction as the mounting flange structures 26 and 27, so that when mounted, the louvers extend upwardly and into the building structure. Furthermore, in order to afford optimum weather protection, the louvers of the rows slope upwardly and outwardly away from the side wall of the building and toward the interior of the facia board. The use of relatively short and small louvers in adjacent rows, as illustrated in FIG. 5, not only provides good weather protection with adequate ventilation, but also reduces the access to the interior of the roof to insects without necessitating the use of a screen for covering the interior of the louvered area of the ventilator.

In the structures shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting flange structure 26 is integrally formed and provides a generally C-shaped section affording a recess 29 of sub- 3. stantial depth for receiving a marginal portion of the soflit panel along the outer edge thereof. For effecting this generally C-shaped formation, a marginal strip 39 of the sheet metal along the ventilator is folded back into contact with the inner surface of the relatively flat louvered panel portion of the ventilator, a flange 32 is bent to extend upwardly in angular relationship to the marginal strip 34) from the inner edge thereof, and a flange 33 extends in angular relationship from the flange 32 and in spaced and opposed relationship to the strip 30. In use, the strip 30 and the flange 33 engage and grip opposite marginal portions of the soffit panel, and the edge of the panel engages the surface of the flange 32 within the recess 29.

Along the opposite side of the ventilator, the mounting flange structure 27 is provided by a flange 34 which extends upwardly in angular relationship to the louvered surface of the ventilator in angular relationship thereto and provides a surface which is readily secured to the outer ends of the studs 17 and the ends of the rafters 14. In the finished roof structure, the facia board 19 covers the outer surface of the flange 34 and desirably extends to a position somewhat below the outer surface of the ventilator.

In the ventilators illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numerals similar to those previously used refer to like parts which perform corresponding functions. Also, the louvered panel portions of the ventilators are constructed and mounted in relationship to the interior of the roof structure as described herein, so that the louvers of the panelled portions extend upwardly and into the interior of the roof structure and outwardly toward the facia board or away from the wall structure of the building.

In the form shown in FIG. 3, the mounting flange structure 27 is in the form of a flange 34 of the type described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the mounting flange structure 26 includes a flange 35 which extends upwardly in angular relationship to the louvered panel portion of the ventilator in angular relationship thereto and a flange 36 extending away from the flange 35 in angular relationship thereto, both of which flanges are integrally formed along the panel for engagement with the soflit panel. The outer edge of the soffit panel 18 engages flange 35, while the flange 36 overlaps the marginal portion of the inner surface of the soflit panel.

In the form illustrated in FIG. 4, the soflit panel is divided into two portions 37 and 38 which extend along the roof structure in spaced and generally coplanar relationship to one another, leaving a space 39 therebetween and extending longitudinally of the roof structure at a position spaced inwardly from the facia board 19 and outwardly from the side wall structure of the building. The soffit ventilator is mounted in this space 39 and extends longitudinally of the roof structure. As depicted, the mounting flange structures 26 and 27 of the ventilator include integrally formed flanges 40 and 42 extending upwardly along opposite sides of the louvered panel portion of the ventilator in angular relationship and in substantially parallel relationship to one another for engagement with opposed edges of the soflit panel portions 37 and 38. Also, flanges 43 and 44 are integrally formed therewith and extend outwardly in opposed and angular relationship to the flanges 40 and 42 to overlap inner marginal surfaces of the soflit panel, portions 37 and 38'. The flanges 43 and 44 may be readily secured to the bottom surfaces of the studs 17.

From the foregoing description and reference to the accompanying drawings, it may be understood that the soffit ventilators disclosedherein provide air flow passages cumulatively affording adequate space for movement of air for ventilating purposes which is distributed along the roof structure. Furthermore, by virtue of the construction and mounting of the disclosed ventilators, they provide good weather protection by effecting changes of the direction of the flow of air passing therethrough, as well as by the shielding action of the louvers as they extend over the exposed vent openings, and also restrict insects from the internal roof area of the building by virtue of their size and disposition. The disclosed soflit ventilators further have the advantage of being disposed in an effective ventilating space, while being shielded from weather and being further constructed to cause changes of direction of the ventilating air as it moves therethrough in reference to the other parts of the building structure.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a soffit structure of a building which includes a horizontally disposed soffit panel extending outwardly from a side wall of the building in angular relationship thereto and having a slot-type opening therethrough from the exterior to the interior of the structure and which slot-type opening extends longitudinally of the soflit structure, a unitary strip-type ventilator providing a weather protective ventilating cover for said slot which extends longitudinally along said soflit panel and comprises a long and relatively narrow sheet metal strip of a width greater than that of said slot and having integrally formed flanges extending in substantially parallel and opposed relationship to one another along opposite longitudinal sides of a generally planar mid-region, said flanges having portions extending into the soflit structure in angular relationship to said mid-region of the strip and being engaged with and secured to portions of said soffit structure with at least one of said flanges engaging and secured to said soffit panel, said mid-region 0f the strip having a width substantially equal to that of said slot and being in parallel and generally flush relationship to the exterior of said sofl'lt panel, said mid-region of the strip also having series of vent openings therein arranged in rows which extend laterally of said mid-region between said flanges, said vent openings having louvers thereover which extend angularly from the surface of the midregion of the strip toward the interior of said soflit structure and one of said flanges and away from said side wall of the building, and said rows of vent openings being in spaced relationship to one another longitudinally of the strip, the one of said flanges which engages and is secured to the soflit panel having a generally C-shaped section with integral parts including spaced and parallel gripping parts connected by a web and wherein said 6- shaped section opens away from the mid-region of the strip and in which a marginal portion of said soflit panel is received.

2; In combination with a soflit structure of a building which includes a horizontally disposed sofl'lt panel extending outwardly from a side wall of the building in angular relationship thereto and having a slot-type opening therethrough from the exterior to the interior of the structure and which slot-type opening extends longitudinally of the soflit structure, a unitary strip-type ventilator providing a weather protective ventilating cover for said slot which extends longitudinally along said soflit panel and comprises a long and relatively narrow sheet metal strip of a width greater than that of said slot and having integrally formed marginal portions extending along opposite longitudinal sides of a generally planar mid-region, one of said marginal portions having a part extending into the soffit structure in angular relationship to said mid-region of the strip and being engaged with said soflit panel, the other of said marginal portions engaging and being held in place by a part of the sofiit structure, said midwegion of the strip having a width substantially equal to that of said slot and being in parallel and generally flush relationship to the exterior of said soflit panel, said mid-region of the strip also having series of vent openings therein arranged in rows which extend laterally of said mid-region between said marginal portions, said rows of vent openings being in spaced relationship to one another longitudinally of the strip, and the one of said marginal portions which engages the soffit panel having a generally C-shaped section with integral parts including spaced and parallel gripping parts connected by a Web and wherein said C-shaped section opens away from the mid-region of the strip and in which a marginal portion of the sotfit panel is received.

3. In a combintaion as defined in claim 2, said vent openings having louvers thereover which extend angularly from the surface of the mid-region of the strip toward the interior of said soffit structure and away from the said marginal portion of generally C-shaped section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mantz Apr. 2, 1940 Anderson Dec. 30, 1941 Peirson Feb. 12, 1957 Smith et a1. Apr. 1, 1958 Katt et a1. Oct. 4, 1960 Davis June 20, 1961 Leigh Aug. 28, 1962 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SOFFIT STRUCTURE OF A BUILDING WHICH INCLUDES A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SOFFIT PANEL EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM A SIDE WALL OF THE BUILDING IN ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP THERETO AND HAVING A SLOT-TYPE OPENING THERETHROUGH FROM THE EXTERIOR TO THE INTERIOR OF THE STRUCTURE AND WHICH SLOT-TYPE OPENING EXTENDS LONGITUDINALLY OF THE SOFFIT STRUCTURE, A UNITARY STRIP-TYPE VENTILATOR PROVIDING A WEATHER PROTECTIVE VENTILATING COVER FOR SAID SLOT WHICH EXTENDS LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID SOFFIT PANEL AND COMPRISES A LONG AND RELATIVELY NARROW SHEET METAL STRIP OF A WIDTH GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID SLOT AND HAVING INTEGRALLY FORMED FLANGES EXTENDING IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER ALONG OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL SIDES OF A GENERALLY PLANAR MID-REGION, SAID FLANGES HAVING PORTIONS EXTENDING INTO THE SOFFIT STRUCTURE IN ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP TO SAID MID-REGION OF THE STRIP AND BEING ENGAGED WITH AND SECURED TO PORTIONS OF SAID SOFFIT STRUCTURE WITH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FLANGES ENGAGING AND SECURED TO SAID SOFFIT PANEL, SAID MID-REGION OF THE STRIP HAVING A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF SAID SLOT AND BEING IN PARALLEL AND GENERALLY FLUSH RELATIONSHIP TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SOFFIT PANEL, SAID MID-REGION OF THE STRIP ALSO HAVING SERIES OF VENT OPENINGS THEREIN ARRANGED IN ROWS WHICH EXTEND LATERALLY OF SAID MID-REGION BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, SAID VENT OPENINGS HAVING LOUVERS THEREOVER WHICH EXTEND ANGULARLY FROM THE SURFACE OF THE MIDREGION OF THE STRIP TOWARD THE INTERIOR OF SAID SOFFIT STRUCTURE AND ONE OF SAID FLANGES AND AWAY FROM SAID SIDE WALL OF THE BUILDING, AND SAID ROWS OF VENT OPENINGS BEING IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER LONGITUDINALLY OF THE STRIP, THE ONE OF SAID FLANGES WHICH ENGAGES AND IS SECURED TO THE SOFFIT PANEL HAVING A GENERALLY C-SHAPED SECTION WITH INTEGRAL PARTS INCLUDING SPACED AND PARALLEL GRIPPING PARTS CONNECTED BY A WEB AND WHEREIN SAID CSHAPED SECTION OPENS AWAY FROM THE MID-REGION OF THE STRIP AND IN WHICH A MARGINAL PORTION OF SAID SOFFIT PANEL IS RECEIVED. 